SparkFun Electronics Commentsurn:uuid:214d0e4e-f1b1-d287-ce26-ac5b4c9f82492015-08-02T16:33:56-06:00SparkFun ElectronicsCustomer #225578 on DEV-11772 - PiFace Digital I/O ExpanderCustomer #225578urn:uuid:8a28231d-12c9-bfa4-1699-52148e22ee902015-03-17T11:32:35-06:00<p>I was simply trying to help. Do what you want with it.<br/>
When it comes to voltage ratings, the key isn&rsquo;t in the size of the traces (as is the case with amperage) it&rsquo;s in the spacing of the traces to avoid arcing. I personally wouldn&rsquo;t switch mains voltage with this thing as it is simply not designed for that and very likely would not meet electrical codes in most parts of the world. Usually when you have a device designed to switch mains voltage, the high voltage (120 or 220v) portion of the circuit is fully separated from the low voltage part by a significant amount of space. That is not the case here. With that being said, if you choose to do so, that is your decision, but you can&rsquo;t expect Sparkfun to rate a product based on extreme edge cases that may be possible under the right circumstances, but could be dangerous in others.</p>Piotr Kula on DEV-11772 - PiFace Digital I/O ExpanderPiotr Kulaurn:uuid:07bebd81-6102-c31e-5a01-0979092c36e72015-03-14T09:56:33-06:00<p>I mean I wouldn&rsquo;t switch 2.5kW with those but I can just barely see the traces on the top and they look thick. If its rated at 100w then the traces and can handle 100watt. This mean 0.5A at 220volt - So its not purely for 20volts only. If you removed the relay and connected a better coper wire to the terminals I am sure the terminals will be able to withstand 200~400watts. It depends what you want to switch on and off I suppose, but saying it only supports 20volts is to keep noobs out of danger switching on 1kw machines like a a stove or a massive computer. Doesnt seem like this PCB was thought through properly or its destination use is not mentioned.I would have put another trace on the bottom, to double the capacity. I would have expected some ADC inputs too.</p>Customer #225578 on DEV-11772 - PiFace Digital I/O ExpanderCustomer #225578urn:uuid:7a6f7bdc-111d-15ff-5734-b1ea2140d9352015-03-14T09:28:40-06:00<p>It is more than likely a matter of heat dissipation, the capacity of the traces on the board, or even the rating of the screw terminals. Just because the relay itself is rated at a certain level, doesn&rsquo;t mean this particular implementation can dissipate all that heat or move that much current through the traces on the board and screw terminals.</p>Piotr Kula on DEV-11772 - PiFace Digital I/O ExpanderPiotr Kulaurn:uuid:cf5c8294-4ea5-9f4e-d657-db1e666c5c0d2015-03-14T05:40:32-06:00<p>The relay actually display 10A 250Volt . Is it a typo on the description. I dont see why it can only do 20V @ 5A max? Thats a 100Watt. From what the picture shows it can handle 2.5kW&hellip; ? Am I missing something?</p>idreamincode on DEV-11772 - PiFace Digital I/O Expanderidreamincodeurn:uuid:def0757a-df5c-c5b4-2564-00d6186834b82014-11-11T11:56:30-07:00<p>This site <a href="http://www.raspberrypi-spy.co.uk/2014/07/raspberry-pi-model-b-and-addon-board-compatibility/" rel="nofollow" >Raspberry Spi Pi</a> says it does. I&rsquo;d guess it also works just fine with the newly released Raspberry Pi A+ module as well.</p>gideon on DEV-11772 - PiFace Digital I/O Expandergideonurn:uuid:98f05af6-e482-a4d7-7c8e-eb861767ba752014-09-19T13:37:43-06:00<p>Does it work with the model B+ ?</p>Customer #424830 on DEV-11772 - PiFace Digital I/O ExpanderCustomer #424830urn:uuid:34eaea21-60de-f3d4-24a0-a81e462047532014-07-31T09:02:37-06:00<p>Will the PiFace seat into its socket OK with the Raspberry Pi B installed into a PiTin? I ordered a ribbon cable in case it doesn&rsquo;t, but I would really like to just have it seated on top of the case.</p>
<p>Is there a separate housing available for the PiFace? Will a different case accommodate both the R-Pi and PiFace combined?</p>
<p>Thanks, Greg</p>Dave6 on DEV-11772 - PiFace Digital I/O ExpanderDave6urn:uuid:ffa04429-cf8b-0e93-c4e7-e0a6030ca7f92014-03-20T06:01:55-06:00<p>Opto would be nice, but from the picture, these are 10A/240VAC relays. That sounds like a web-enabled outlet to me, minus optic isolation. The description says otherwise, which is&hellip; confusing.</p>Customer #328620 on DEV-11772 - PiFace Digital I/O ExpanderCustomer #328620urn:uuid:25824e8f-4caa-4480-689c-f15876712d2d2014-03-12T19:44:32-06:00<p>+1 for this.</p>slinger on DEV-11772 - PiFace Digital I/O Expanderslingerurn:uuid:5df9b9c0-a287-ffbd-d3ce-067ec00a6b332014-03-08T21:21:23-07:00<p>I would like to see some nice opto isolated relays rated for 120/240 Vac so you could make a web enabled outlet. You can&rsquo;t do much with 5 or 12 V dc.</p>willware on DEV-11772 - PiFace Digital I/O Expanderwillwareurn:uuid:ee93c2bd-ce27-6b45-7833-013b62b0b1bb2013-12-25T21:55:39-07:00<p>There is also a PDF at http://www.element14.com/community/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadBody/55183-102-1-275519/PiFace%20Digital%20Datasheet.pdf.</p>Customer #486341 on DEV-11772 - PiFace Digital I/O ExpanderCustomer #486341urn:uuid:99578b9d-e795-30ca-f494-009db97870662013-11-07T16:21:43-07:00<p>Theres no doc . help tutorials of forums that can help.. its crap</p>GregInAustin on DEV-11772 - PiFace Digital I/O ExpanderGregInAustinurn:uuid:64ca9d68-eafd-58fc-52aa-abd4b2bd1cf32013-08-02T15:51:59-06:00<p>Mounting holes would be nice&hellip; 8)</p>bsilva on DEV-11772 - PiFace Digital I/O Expanderbsilvaurn:uuid:92dd79fc-8fc7-2479-e0a7-b25f41e570752013-06-09T20:15:21-06:00<p>Found it. If you go to &ldquo;Startup Guides&rdquo; in the Documents links on the SparkFun product page, look for a document called &ldquo;pifacedigitaldatasheet.pdf&rdquo;</p>
<p>Brad</p>bsilva on DEV-11772 - PiFace Digital I/O Expanderbsilvaurn:uuid:c941331a-8c4c-757b-1753-e526c7d60af02013-06-09T20:13:09-06:00<p>Is there hardware documentation available anywhere?</p>
<p>Couldn&rsquo;t find any on the PiFace website.</p>
<p>Thanks,
Brad</p>